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58 Inspirational chemistry

Changing the properties of


polymers and plastics
Index 3.1.5
7 sheets

The properties of polymers and plastics can be changed in a number of ways. One
way is of course to produce a different polymer or plastic with a different chemical
structure, but there are also other possibilities. This series of activities allows students
to explore some of them:
■ The use of plasticisers – see Making a plastic from potato starch or the activity in
this section on plasticised and unplasticised PVC (polyvinyl chloride)
■ Cross-linking polymer chains – see Making slime or the activity on rubber
■ The effect of changing the length of the polymer chains
■ The effect of the presence of branched chains
Four of the activities (PVC, rubber, chain length and branched chains) could be set up
as a circus and carried out by the whole class in turn. Alternatively, groups of students
could each do one of the four experiments and then report back to the class. Making a
plastic from potato starch and Making slime are likely to be very popular activities and
are probably best done as class experiments. Details of these activities are given
separately.

Equipment required
Set 1: Plasticised and unplasticised PVC
■ Plasticised PVC – squeezy toy and/or PVC cling film
■ Unplasticised PVC – piece of uPVC pipe or guttering.

Set 2: Cross-linking (or vulcanising) rubber


■ Rubber – microscope slide with a thick coating of Copydex glue (set up at least the
night before)
■ Vulcanised rubber – thick rubber band.
The glue can be peeled off the microscope slide by students when they are ready to
use it. One sample will not last long enough for all groups to use it so have several in
reserve.
Inspirational chemistry 59

Set 3: Changing the length of polymer chains


■ Candle wax or candle
■ Polyethene (eg carrier bag)
■ Sample of medium chain length hydrocarbon (eg kerosene) in a sealed tube.

Set 4: Branching chains in polyethene


■ High density polyethene – a ‘rustly’ supermarket carrier bag
■ Low density polyethene – a ‘quiet’ department store carrier bag.
All the above items should be labelled.
Additional items:
■ Assorted worksheets and helpsheets as chosen by the teacher for each group
■ Some groups may need glue and scissors.

Differentiating the activity


Students should describe the properties of the samples in each set and try to explain
the difference they observe. The activity can be left very open-ended and students
given no help, or the support documents listed below can be used:
■ List of possible properties for students to choose from (List of properties)
■ Table to complete (Table)
■ Explanations for use in completing the table (Explanations)
■ Cut and stick diagrams (Diagrams)
■ Information sheet (Information sheet).
Each item in the list is provided as a separate document so teachers can choose how
much help to give to each class or group of students.
The most able students could be given the samples and perhaps the diagrams. They
can discuss in groups why there are differences between the polymers in each group of
substances. If they get stuck or wish to check their answers when they have thought of
an explanation they could be given the information sheet.
The least able students could be given the properties list and the table to begin with,
then the diagrams and explanations when they have decided on the properties. Giving
them only one step at a time will help to prevent them from becoming overwhelmed.

Possible answers to questions


The depth at which these questions can be answered could vary widely depending on
the abilities of the students concerned.
60 Inspirational chemistry

Example answers
Properties and
Changes to differences in Diagram of the Why the plastics have
polymer properties molecules different properties
Plasticisers
Plasticised PVC Very flexible; soft. The chains with small plasticiser
molecules between them slip
and slide over each other more
easily. This makes the plastic more
flexible. Without plasticiser
Unplasticised PVC Rigid; hard. molecules the plastic is tougher
and more rigid because the chains
line up in rows and hold on to
each other more tightly.
Cross-linking
Rubber (Copydex) Very elastic and The substance made of molecules
stretchy; does not that are cross-linked is harder and
always go back less flexible than the one without
to original shape; cross-links. The links stop the
soft. molecules moving over each other
so the structure is more rigid.
Cross-linked Elastic – but not as s s

rubber elastic as the


(elastic band) Copydex; harder than s s

the Copydex.

Length of chains
Kerosene Viscous liquid Longer molecules can get tangled up
in each other. They also stick
Candle wax Soft solid together better. This means that
substances made of longer
Polyethene Stretchy/elastic solid molecules are harder and have
higher melting points.
Branching chains
High density Rustles when moved; The plastic which has no side chains
polyethene stretchy/elastic on its molecules has a higher
density because more molecules can
pack into the same amount of space.
The molecules can slide over each
other more easily if there is nothing
Low density Not as stretchy as the in the way to stop them. When there
polyethene high density are side chains or branches in the
polyethene way, the polymer chains cannot
slide over each other so easily
because there are more interactions
between the chains.

Table of example answers


Changing the properties
of polymers and plastics
You are going to investigate how the properties of polymers and plastics can be changed.
You will be given four sets of polymers. Look at one set at a time. Describe the properties of each
material in the set, paying particular attention to how the polymers are different from each other.
Ignore the colour of your samples.
Draw a diagram of the molecules of each substance using the diagram sheet to help you. Some
diagrams will need to be used more than once.
Explain why the polymers have different properties by describing their molecules and how they are
different from each other.
Think carefully about how you present your results.

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Changing the properties of polymers
and plastics – list of properties
The plastics and polymers you have been given may have some or all of the properties listed
below. You can use each property in the list as many times as you need to or not at all.
Ignore the colour of the plastics.
● Stretchy or elastic
● Rustly or noisy when moved
● Strong
● Weak
● Flexible
● Brittle
● Soft
● Hard.

You can also use any other properties you can think of to describe the plastics.

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Changing the properties of polymers
and plastics – table
Properties and
Changes to differences in Diagram of the Why the plastics have
polymer properties molecules different properties
Plasticisers
Plasticised PVC

Unplasticised PVC

Cross-linking
Rubber (Copydex)

Cross-linked
rubber
(elastic band)

Length of chains

Kerosene

Candle wax

Polyethene

Branching chains
High density
polyethene

Low density
polyethene

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Changing the properties of polymers
and plastics – explanations
Below are some explanations that might help you complete your table about the properties of
plastics.
Longer molecules can get tangled up in The plastic which has no side chains on its
each other. They also stick together molecules has a higher density because
better. This means that substances more molecules can pack into the same
made of longer molecules are harder amount of space. The molecules can slide
and have higher melting points. over each other more easily if there is
nothing in the way to stop them. When
there are side chains or branches in the
way, the polymer chains cannot slide over
each other so easily because there are
more interactions between the chains.

The substance made of molecules that The chains with small plasticiser molecules
are cross-linked is harder and less between them slip and slide over each
flexible than the one without cross- other more easily. This makes the plastic
links. The links stop the molecules more flexible. Without plasticiser
moving over each other so the structure molecules the plastic is tougher and more
is more rigid. rigid because the chains line up in rows
and hold on to each other more tightly.

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Changing the properties of polymers
and plastics – diagrams

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s s

s s

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Changing the properties of polymers
and plastics – information sheet
The properties of polymers and plastics can be altered in a number of ways. This information
sheet describes four of them.

Plasticisers
A plasticiser is a small molecule that can be put in between the large molecules of a polymer. The
plasticiser acts a little bit like oil in a car engine – it helps the polymer molecules slide over each
other easily. Without the plasticiser the molecules attract each other and tend to stick together.
This gives the substance a rigid structure which might make it useful in construction. The
plasticiser changes the properties of the substance and allows it to be used for a wider range of
things.

Branching chains
Polymers are usually made by heating the monomer and passing it over a catalyst. The sort of
catalyst used can affect how much the polymer chain branches. Polymer branches are like the
branches of a tree – they are made of the same stuff as the main chain but go off in a different
direction.
If the polymer chains have no branches, they pack in close to each other and the material has a
high density. The chains can pass over each other easily so the material is very stretchy. If the
polymer chains have a lot of branches then the chains cannot pack together as closely and the
material has a lower density. The branches catch on each other, preventing the chains from
sliding easily past one another. This makes the plastic less stretchy.

Cross-linking
Rubber and some other polymers can be cross-linked. A chemical reaction takes place that
connects the chains to each other permanently. This makes the whole structure more rigid and
less elastic. It also makes the material a lot stronger and harder. Vulcanised rubber is cross-linked
using sulfur. Some of the structures inside your body are held together in the same way because
proteins can be cross-linked with sulfur too.

The length of the polymer chains


Long chains get tangled up in each other and stick together far more than short chains. This
means that polymers made of long chain molecules have higher melting points than those made
of short chains. Shorter molecules can pass over each other more easily so materials made of
these molecules are softer and more ‘squishy’.

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